Outspoken punter Kluwe released by Vikings

May 06, 2013|Sports Xchange

Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe joined volunteers from Minnesotans United for All Families at the University of Minnesota to encourage voters to vote against the marriage amendment in Minneapolis. (Jim Gehrz / McClatchy-Tribune)

Veteran punter Chris Kluwe announced Monday via Twitter that he was released by the Minnesota Vikings.

The outspoken 31-year-old predicted he would cede his roster spot and job to fifth-round pick Jeff Locke before the team's June minicamp.

Kluwe owns the team gross punting records for a game (57.5), a season (47.6) and a career (44.4). He also had the third-highest gross average (45.0) and best net average (39.9) of his eight-year career despite battling groin and knee injuries in 2012.

Kluwe has been outspoken on many issues, including Ray Guy's Hall of Fame candidacy and gay marriage, and said recently advocating for causes he believes in would be worth losing his job with the Vikings.

“I would hope that I would get the chance to play football again, because I think I can still play,” Kluwe said before he was released. “But if it ends up being something that costs me that position, I think making people aware of an issue that is causing children to commit suicide is more important than kicking a leather ball.”